49ers’ ‘Sleeper’ trick play works to perfection

The name of the play is “Sleeper,” and it’s safe to say it caught the Rams napping Sunday.

Late in the third quarter of the 49ers‘ 34-27 win over St. Louis, placekicker David Akers lined up for a 32-yard field goal that never materialized. Instead, Akers took a direct snap from Brian Jennings and tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass near the left sideline to wide receiver Michael Crabtree to give San Francisco a 27-10 lead.

Were the Rams fooled? The closest defender to Crabtree was somewhere near Kansas City.

“I looked over and Crab was wide open, and I was like, ‘Oh, my,’ ” Akers said. “When I threw it, I thought I underthrew him. But he just kind of ran a little slant in there and made it look real smooth for me.”

Said Crabtree: “I told him, ‘Just throw the ball and I got you.’ That’s what he did.”

After a third-down incompletion prior to the fake field goal, Akers trotted onto the field, but Crabtree never left. He lingered near the left sideline, unnoticed by the Rams.

The play was another inspired move by special-teams coach Brad Seely, who called a similar fake field goal when he was with the Patriots in a 40-22 win at St. Louis on Nov. 7, 2004. In that game, New England’s Adam Vinatieri threw a 4-yard touchdown to Troy Brown.

On Sunday, Akers had to throw a slightly longer pass. And the 13-year veteran with one previous career pass attempt – an 11-yard completion in 2006 – had a few pre-snap butterflies.

Akers’ pass may not have been perfect, but his career passing stats – 2-of-2 for 25 yards and a touchdown – translate to a 158.3 passer rating. As quarterback Alex Smith knows, that’s impossible to top.